Accrington on Rails - The Tramways: A Complete History - Robert Kenyon

In reply to the Borough Surveyor’s enquiries to Mr R. S. Dugdale, the Borough Surveyor of Huddersfield, we enclose a report passed on to him by Mr J. Pogson the Huddersfield Tramways Manager, who has control of all the works in connection with the operation of the tramway. It reads - In reply to you, it would be misleading to give an exact amount of our experience here with regard to the upkeep of our entire system, on account of the varying dates of construction and renewals. But I have given this matter very serious consideration based on the cost of maintenance here, and would consider the following figure an equitable basis between the Corporation and my tramway department. For a new piece of track, girder section of steel rails and granite setts, the average sum for maintenance is £50 per mile of single track per annum. (1) The annual contribution for the renewal of paving at £44 per mile of single track. (2) The annual contribution for the renewal of rails, points and crossings at £60 per mile. (3) The total per single line of track coming to £156 – 15s – 0d per annum. The basis of this calculation for renewal purposes is a life of 20 years for rails and 30 years for granite setts. This is a longer life than the ‘actual’ life of both rails and setts, but the accumulated sum together with compound interest would, in anyone’s opinion make up for the difference. Yours etc. J. Pogson. (Huddersfield Corporation Tramways.) In Blackburn the Corporation and their lessees, the Blackburn Tramway Company, have decided to enter into the following agreement, which has been communicated to us by Mr Stubbs, the Borough Surveyor, with respect to the maintenance and repair of only the paving on their system. “The 18 inch margins to be repaved with new granite setts and charged to the Company at 7/6d per sq. yard. After the lines are properly completed, maintenance to be at the rate of 2/6d per sq. yard for the 18 inch margins per annum for the first ten years and thereafter at 4½d per sq. yard per annum for the next ten years. The part between the rails to be repaved with the best of the old setts at the rate of 2/6d per sq. yard, and maintained for a period of twenty years at the rate of 4½d per sq. yard. The Tramway Company to supply all rails, points, crossings and to install them, with the Corporation repaving any portion of the paving disturbed at the rate of 1/3d per yard in length, this agreement to stay in place for 20 years. It must be noted that these arrangements do not affect the steel rails, points or crossings which still have to be renewed and maintained by the Tramway Company.” Your Sub-Committee met again on June 1 st , with all these particulars laid before them, and then considered the cost of maintaining such portions of the main roads within the Borough, outside of those portions forming the trackbed of the tramway. a) They found the total area of these main roads to be 78,802 sq. yards. b) The area covered by the trackbed of the tramway to be 19,255 sq. yards. This leaves 59,547 sq. yards, which are repaired by the Corporation at a cost of £2,600 (including a sum of £2,200 from the County Council), or a sum of 10½d per superficial sq. yard exclusive of the annual cost of maintaining the footpaths, the cost of the repairs and maintenance of the main roads is 9d per sq. yard. Therefore the total annual cost of the repair and maintenance of the 19,255 sq. yards now covered by the tramway would be £722. Add the cost of renewals, repairs and maintenance of rails, points, crossings etc. estimated at £30 per mile, (one half that in Huddersfield), this equals £165. This gives a total of £887 which is nearly equal to £162 per mile of single rail. Your Sub-Committee therefore recommends that the offer made by the Tramway Company should not be entertained. But an offer should be made to them to release them from their Covenant in consideration of a payment of an extra

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